Title:
Spectroscopic study of unique line broadening and inversion in low-pressure microwave generated water plasmas

Abstract: It was demonstrated that low pressure (~0.2 Torr) water vapor plasmas
generated in a 10 mm inner diameter quartz tube with an Evenson microwave
cavity show at least two features which are not explained by conventional
plasma models. First, significant (> 0.25 nm) hydrogen Balmer_ line broadening,
of constant width, up to 5 cm from the microwave coupler was recorded. Only
hydrogen, and not oxygen, showed significant line broadening. This feature,
observed previously in hydrogen-containing mixed gas plasmas generated with
high voltage dc and rf discharges was explained by some researchers to result
from acceleration of hydrogen ions near the cathode. This explanation cannot
apply to the line broadening observed in the (electrodeless) microwave plasmas
generated in this work, particularly at distances as great as 5 cm from the
microwave coupler. Second, inversion of the line intensities of both the Lyman
and Balmer series, again, at distances up to 5 cm from the coupler, were
observed. The line inversion suggests the existence of a hitherto unknown
source of pumping of the optical power in plasmas. Finally, it is notable that
other aspects of the plasma including the OH* rotational temperature and low
electron concentrations are quite typical of plasmas of this type.